Uzbekistan, Italy eye launching new tourist train

Italy’s Arsenale Group has presented a new Luxury tourist train in Tashkent. The train is proposed to run on the route Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva-Tashkent, Report informs referring to the Uzbek media.

This issue was discussed at a meeting held in Uzbekistan Railways with the general director of Arsenale Group.

The parties also expressed their readiness to discuss a cooperation agreement, which provides for the creation of a joint venture, the development of routes and schedules, as well as the start of practical work on the project.

“As is known, in June, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Italy and held a meeting with representatives of business circles,” said Khikmatulla Rakhmetov, first deputy chairman of the board of Uzbekistan Railways JSC. “In particular, the Italian company Arsenale Group also attended this meeting. As a result of the June negotiations, this company approached us with a proposal for joint cooperation. Its CEO Paolo Barletta suggested launching a tourist train from Europe through Uzbekistan to China. I consider the implementation of this project an important step, because there has never been such a thing in the history of railways.”

The Italian side also made a proposal to create a joint venture with Uzbekistan Railways JSC. Based on the results of the implementation of all the goals, it is planned to launch a high-speed tourist train from Europe through the Caucasus, Russia, Uzbekistan to China.